Computer apparatus and methods supporting different categories of users

• US 7,203,656 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mikhail Lotvin, Richard M. Nemes
• Inventors: Lotvin, Mikhail, Nemes, Richard Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jarrett, Scott L.
• Application Number:
  US10/184,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/7, 705/14, 434/350, 600/545, 463/40
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/18 Book-keeping or economics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A central computer system preferably communicates with local computers of users over the Internet and stores account information of users. Preferably, users may interact with information provided by the central computer system or third party computer systems. The availability of such information is preferably controlled by a different user. The central system preferably stores data representing rewards available to the users as a result of interaction with such information. The users preferably may obtain products or services, in accordance with the stored rewards, wherein at least some of such products or services are promoted by a different user, which provides financing for at least some of the items obtained with the reward. Preferably, the central system includes administrative software that may provide monitoring and managing performance of the system, fraud detection, and management of the information available to the users.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method enabling a first user to determine the viewing preferences of a second user comprising:

providing access to electronically-stored content over the Internet via a central computer system having at least one processor and memory;

a first user specifying the viewing preferences of a second user for third party content, wherein the first user and second user are not the third party, comprising;

the first user specifying the second user'"'"'s content preferences through the selection of at least one content category from a collection of content categories of desirable content to be displayed to the at least one second user;

the first user specifying the second user'"'"'s advertisement preferences through the selection of at least one advertising category from a collection of advertising categories wherein the selection specifies undesirable advertisement for goods or services that should be precluded from display to the at least one second user;

the first user specifying the second user'"'"'s goods or services preferences through the selection of at least one good or service from a collection of goods or services categories wherein the selection specifies undesirable goods or services that should be precluded from purchase by the at least one second user;

presenting a content selection to said second user comprising at least one instance of desirable content;

the second user selecting an instance of desirable content;

selecting at least one advertisement which is not in the category of undesirable advertisement for goods or services; and

providing the selected advertisement for display to the second user in conjunction with the selected instance of the desirable content, thereby precluding display of advertisement for the undesirable categories of goods or services.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some the content being stored on one or more third party computer systems, which are not part of the central computer system, and wherein the selected instance of the desirable content is provided by such third-party computer system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising financing second user'"'"'s access to content by receiving funds for displaying advertisement to the second user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the second user to obtain a good or service via communication with the central computer system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing data representing a reward available to the second user as result of second user'"'"'s access to the selected instance of the desirable content.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing e-mail capability for certain users of the central computer system to communicate with other users.

7. A computer readable medium storing instructions, enabling a first user to determine the viewing preferences of a second user, that when executed cause a central computer to perform the steps comprising:

providing access to electronically-stored content over the Internet via the central computer system having at least one processor and memory;

a first user specifying the viewing preferences of a second user for third party content, wherein the first user and second user are not the third party, comprising;

the first user specifying the second user'"'"'s content preferences through the selection of at least one content category from a collection of content categories of desirable content to be displayed to the at least one second user;

the first user specifying the second user'"'"'s advertisement preferences through the selection of at least one advertising category from a collection of advertising categories wherein the selection specifies undesirable advertisement for goods or services that should be precluded from display to the at least one second user;

the first user specifying the second user'"'"'s goods or services preferences through the selection of at least one good or service from a collection of goods or services categories wherein the selection specifies undesirable goods or services that should be precluded from purchase by the at least one second user;

presenting a content selection to said second user comprising at least one instance of desirable content;

the second user selecting an instance of desirable content;

selecting at least one advertisement which is not in the category of undesirable advertisement for goods or services; and

providing the selected advertisement for display to the second user in conjunction with the selected instance of the desirable content, thereby precluding display of advertisement for the undesirable categories of goods or services.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein at least some the content being stored on one or more third party computer systems, which are not part of the central computer system, and wherein the selected instance of the desirable content is provided by such third-party computer system.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further enable providing e-mail capability for certain users of the central computer system to communicate with other users.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further enable the first user to monitor activities of second users.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the undesirable advertisement comprises advertisement which is incompatible with the desirable content.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the undesirable goods or services comprise at least one good or service which is incompatible with the desirable content.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the instructions further enable the second user to obtain a good or service.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the first user is an individual.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the first user is a commercial entity.

16. A central computer system enabling a first user to determine the viewing preferences of a second user comprising:

at least one processor, memory and content;

a software module that electronically enables providing access to electronically-stored content over the Internet;

a software module that electronically enables a first user to specify the viewing preferences of a second user for third party content, wherein the first user and second user are not the third party, comprising;

a software module that electronically enables the first user to specify the second user'"'"'s content preferences through the selection of at least one content category from a collection of content categories of desirable content to be displayed to the at least one second user;

a software module that electronically enables the first user to specify the second user'"'"'s advertisement preferences through the selection of at least one advertising category from a collection of advertising categories wherein the selection specifies undesirable advertisement for goods or services that should be precluded from display to the at least one second user;

a software module that electronically enables the first user to specify the second user'"'"'s goods or services preferences through the selection of at least one good or service from a collection of goods or services categories wherein the selection specifies undesirable goods or services that should be precluded from purchase by the at least one second user;

a software module that electronically enables presenting a content selection to such second user comprising at least one instance of desirable content;

a software module that electronically enables the second user to select an instance of desirable content;

a software module that electronically enables the selection of at least one advertisement which is not in the category of undesirable advertisement for goods or services; and

a software module that electronically enables providing the selected advertisement for display to the second user in conjunction with the selected instance of the desirable content, thereby precluding display of advertisement for the undesirable categories of goods or services.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a software module storing account information of second users.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a software module enabling the second user to obtain an item of value, which may be a good or a service.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a software module that stores data representing a reward available to the second user as result of second user'"'"'s access to the selected instance of the desirable content.